Our Mission

Partnering in pursuit of GREATER ECONOMIC VITALITY FOR ALL

WorkForce Central carries out the vision of the Chief Local Elected Officials and the Pierce County Workforce Development Council by coordinating, administering and advancing the work of the workforce development system, known as WorkSource Pierce.

Our mission is to increase access to services for job seekers, workers and businesses. We strive to enhance the quality of services offered across the system to ensure consistent, effective experiences for its stakeholders, cultivating economic prosperity for our clients.

Collaborating with partners to adopt proven and promising practices for workforce development programming.

OUR STRATEGY

CHAMPION

At WorkForce Central, we champion a comprehensive approach to workforce development as a vital component to a strong economy. We catalyze collaboration and coordination among workforce development stakeholders and work in conjunction with our partners to actively pursue investments in workforce development.

EVALUATE

WorkForce Central evaluates regional workforce needs by gathering and analyzing data. By sharing this data, we foster informed, data-driven decisions among leaders who work to address deficiencies and seize opportunities to strengthen the regional economy.

CONVENE

At WorkForce Central, we convene business, education, labor, government, nonprofits, philanthropic organizations and the broader community to implement and support innovative strategies that address workforce development needs and gaps. We help our partners to adopt proven and promising workforce development practices.

STEWARD

WorkForce Central stewards public dollars to promote the effectiveness of the workforce development network. This is just one way that we fulfill the vision of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

CHAMPION

At WorkForce Central, we champion a comprehensive approach to workforce development as a vital component to a strong economy. We catalyze collaboration and coordination among workforce development stakeholders and work in conjunction with our partners to actively pursue investments in workforce development.

EVALUATE

WorkForce Central evaluates regional workforce needs by gathering and analyzing data. By sharing this data, we foster informed, data-driven decisions among leaders who work to address deficiencies and seize opportunities to strengthen the regional economy.

CONVENE

At WorkForce Central, we convene business, education, labor, government, nonprofits, philanthropic organizations and the broader community to implement and support innovative strategies that address workforce development needs and gaps. We help our partners to adopt proven and promising workforce development practices.

STEWARD

WorkForce Central stewards public dollars to promote the effectiveness of the workforce development network. This is just one way that we fulfill the vision of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What’s the difference between WorkSource and WorkForce Central?

Great question. WorkSource is a partnership of state and local government agencies, educational institutions and non-profit organizations that offer employment services for job seekers and businesses. Essentially, WorkSource is the brand name for the employment service-delivery system in Washington state.

WorkSource Pierce, then, is the brand name for this service-delivery system in Pierce County. That’s where WorkForce Central comes in. Doing business on behalf of the Pierce County Workforce Development Council (WDC), WorkForce Central carries out the vision of the WDC and our Executive Board (we’ll get to that in a minute) to lead, coordinate and implement workforce development solutions within Pierce County – that is, we lead and coordinate the work of WorkSource Pierce.

We used to, but current legislation directs us to instead procure and contract some of those services through a competitive process. In 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was put in place, and it dictated that local workforce boards like WorkForce Central – on behalf of the WDC – should instead serve as strategic, coordinating bodies, rather than direct service providers. If, like us, you enjoy reading hundreds of pages of federal legislation,you can find WIOA in all of its glory by clicking this link.

So which services do your third-party sub-awardees provide?

Another great question. Youth and Young Adult workforce development services in Pierce County are provided by ResCare Workforce Services, which is a national company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. ResCare also holds our Business Solutions contract – you can learn more about those services below – and provides workforce services in more than 300 locations nationwide.

Meanwhile, the WFC Executive Board and WDC awarded Career Path Services our contract to provide comprehensive workforce development services to Adults and Dislocated Workers. Career Path Services is a non-profit organization that provides workforce development services throughout Washington state. You can learn more about Career Path Services by clicking this link.

WorkForce Central serves as the manager of these contracts, and works to ensure the aforementioned programs and services are provided in compliance with all applicable laws.

Got it. So do these service providers work out of your office, or their own office?

Both ResCare and Career Path Services – along with staff members from the Employment Security Department (ESD) and other partners – are located at the WorkSource Pierce Job Center, which serves as the “One Stop” full-service job center in the Pierce County workforce development area.

“One Stop?” What does that mean?

OK, so there are three different kinds of WorkSource Pierce sites: full-service, affiliate and connection. Full-service sites are known as “One-Stop Centers,” meaning that comprehensive employment and training (WIOA) services are available at that facility. Affiliate sites offer basic career services, and Connection sites are spaces where technology is available for job seekers to access workforce development system resources online.

Each workforce development area – ours is Pierce County – is required by law to have at least one One-Stop Center.

So where is the One Stop Full Service site located?

The WorkSource Pierce Job Center is located at 3650 S. Cedar St. in Tacoma, WA 98409. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

What are the comprehensive services available there?

WIOA requires that each One-Stop Center provide access to physical services of six core programs – WIOA Title 1 (services for Adult, Dislocated Workers and Youth); the Adult Education and Literacy Act programs administered by the Department of Education (DoED); Wagner-Peyser Act services administered by the Department of Labor; and Rehabilitation Act Title 1 programs administered by the DoED.

Each local workforce development board may also include additional partners at One-Stop Centers.

I’m unemployed and unsure about how to get back into the job market. Where should I go?

Yep! The WorkForce Central Executive Board is comprised of six members, including the current Mayor of Tacoma, the current Pierce County Executive, a current Pierce County Councilmember, a current Tacoma City Councilmember, the chair of the WDC, and the CEO of WorkForce Central.Click here for a complete listing of our current Executive Board members.

Both. The Executive Board maintains fiduciary responsibility, and is responsible for high-level, strategic decision-making. The WDC’s role is more tactical and day-to-day. The two bodies work together to implement WIOA and approve and assign funding.